Program news & information from the Library Development & Networking Division

Free CE and Training This Week – December 15-19

Here’s a weekly reminder of free training on the web. Confirm date and time when you pre-register, or follow the links for archive information. Webinars listed in Central Time. See the full monthly listing, and check the calendar to see what’s happening today.
Monday December 15, 2014Summer Reading Refreshed! (CSL)
Is your summer reading program in need of a boost to re-engage your young patrons (and possibly you and your coworkers)? Are you looking for innovative ways to reach youth that don’t use your library? Have a great spin on summer reading that you want to share with colleagues? Please join us for this interactive session to exchange ideas to hack the summer reading box. Come prepared to engage in a lively discussion, ask your burning questions, and share your experiences.Time: 1-2:00 p.m.

Volunteering in the Public Sector (Reimaging Service)
America’s Service Commissions hosts a webinar featuring Kaira Esgate, Executive Director of Reimagining Service, where she’ll discuss the newly-released Reimagining Service study on the eight effective characteristics of volunteer engagement in the public sector along with key findings. Carla Lehn from the California State Library will also share her forward-thinking work with Get Involved: Powered By Your Library, a successful California statewide initiative involving skill-based volunteers.Time: 12-1:00 p.m.

Pinterest and Snapguides for Learning (InSync)
One of the unique products to emerge in an increasingly crowded field of social tools is Pinterest—a fun combination of social bookmarking, images, commenting, and public sharing. It’s a great place for connecting with and sharing resources for your own professional development. Join Jane Bozarth for a quick example-filled tour of using Pinterest and another very new product, Snapguide, to support your practice and your professional growth.Time: 1-2:00 p.m.

Tuesday December 16, 2014Edge Reimbursement Program Overview (TSLAC)Sixty-nine public libraries participated in the first round of Edge reimbursement funding earlier this year. They purchased laptops, monitors, ereaders, adaptive equipment, software, and more to meet the public access technology needs of their communities. The Texas State Library is now rolling out a second round of funding for libraries that have completed or plan to complete the online Edge assessment. Join Jennifer Peters, Community Engagement Administrator, and Tamra Lavin, Grants Accountant, as they provide information and answer your questions about applying for Round 2 of the Edge Reimbursement Program. If you’re a library director, grantwriter, or involved with technology acquisition, you may want to learn more about how this reimbursement program works.
Time: 2-3:00 p.m.

Wednesday December 17, 2014Library Websites on a Budget: Tools, Tips, and Tales (TechSoup)
Come to this free webinar to learn about free website creation and content management tools that you can easily use to create attractive and engaging websites. Hear from libraries who have recently revamped their websites, and learn the secrets to their success.Time: 1-2:00 p.m.

Data for ROI and Benchmarking Ebook Collections (LJ)
Data is being used to make quick ebooks acquisitions decision changes at a single library and being used in scale to better understand ebook usage globally. Ying Zhang will present on a study undertaken at the University of Central Florida to determine the best ROI for their library ebook acquisitions models. Michael Levine-Clark will discuss a large-scale study showing trends across over 10,000 libraries and hundreds of thousands of ebooks. A study of this scale allows us to show broad patterns of usage and establish benchmarks that should prove useful for libraries and consortia for local planning.Time: 2-3:00 p.m.

Thursday December 18, 2014Reboot Your Digital Strategy! (IMLS and OCTAE)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education (OCTAE) at the U.S. Department of Education are working together to encourage effective collaborations between libraries and federally funded adult education programs. The goal of this joint effort is to enhance the skills, employability, and quality of life of youths and adults with low skills. This webinar supports state and local level efforts to cross-train staff on digital literacy and builds awareness about national and regional Internet access expansion efforts. Learn how your library and adult education program can take advantage of national developments in digital literacy.Time: 1-2:30 p.m.